6 Reasons Your Air Conditioner is Blowing Warm Air

Perhaps one of the worst feelings when you’re at home in the summer is turning on the air conditioning (AC) and realizing it’s not blowing cold air, but warm air instead. Especially in the muggy heat, you need a functioning air conditioner.

To help you confirm why your air conditioner is blowing warm air, we have created an outline of 6 common issues and ways to respond.

Why Is My Air Conditioner Blowing Warm Air

Table of Contents

Your AC not doing the one thing it is supposed to do is frustrating. Read on to find out why it’s blowing warm air and how you can troubleshoot it.

1. Thermostat Issues

A common culprit that often flies under the radar of AC issues is your thermostat. Before having an HVAC technician come in and inspect your AC unit, check your thermostat. Maybe it’s out of batteries or somehow disconnected from a source of power.

Or—and this user error is pretty common—it’s not set to “cool,” or the fan isn’t on. Of course, it could be that your thermostat is malfunctioning completely. Contact a local professional to be sure.

2. Tripped Circuit Breaker or Electrical Surge

Sometimes, a circuit breaker switch is tripped and your AC unit isn’t properly cooling, or not cooling at all. This is an easy fix—go to your circuit box and check if any of the breakers need to be flipped back. If you flip it back and the AC is still blowing warm air into your house, then something else is the problem.

3. Clogged Drain System

All AC units produce liquid as a byproduct of cooling the warm air. This means that each air conditioner also has a drain system to get rid of the extra water. If the drain hose or condensate line is clogged, it can cause a backup, begin leaking water, and affect your unit’s ability to blow cool air.

4. Your Air Filters Are Not Clean

Another common issue, dirty air filters restrict air flow and can cause the motor, fan, or compressor to overcompensate because it senses that it isn’t cooling enough air. The result is a system that gets overwhelmed and shuts off. Make sure your filters stay clean and clear of debris with a regular maintenance plan.

5. Insufficient Refrigerant Levels

Just like car ACs, your home air conditioner needs refrigerant to function properly. Refrigerant is what helps cool down the air flowing through your unit. If your air conditioner is blowing warm air to your supply vents, this is a sign of a refrigerant leak.

A fix to this can be as simple as filling up the refrigerant levels. However, if your refrigerant levels are low, the best way to resolve the issue is to fix the refrigerant leak.

6. Restricted or Faulty Compressor

A compressor helps compress the refrigerant agent which makes the evaporator coil cold. If your condenser is having a tough time with the refrigerant, then the air won’t properly cool, resulting in warm air.

Solutions for Homeowners to Prevent Warm Air from Blowing Out of their Air Conditioners

We’re going to go more in-depth on how to fix any faulty AC components, so you can get back to enjoying your cool, comfortable environment. Remember, not all of these things can be done on your own. Sometimes, it’s in your best interest to call an HVAC technician so they can do it safely and properly.

Faulty Thermostat

Check to see if the batteries need to be replaced
Recalibrate your thermostat
Make sure it’s in a shaded area that doesn’t get a lot of sun
Contact a professional if you notice corrosion build-up or an error message

Circuit Breaker Tripping

Flip the switches if they have been tripped
Any other troubleshooting with circuit breakers should be handled by a professional to reduce the risk of electrocution and other dangers

Dirty Air Filter

Remove and replace them with clean ones—this is pretty easy to do on your own
Replace your air filters more often if you have pets

Refrigerant Leaks

Have a seasoned HVAC professional check out your unit to fix the leak and then top off the refrigerant

Air Conditioning Repair, Maintenance, and Installation Services

Stay cool and comfortable in the hot months with our comprehensive air conditioning repair and air conditioning installation services.

Our team of technicians offers reputable HVAC repair services in Hudson, Wisconsin and is available to help you with a defective central air conditioning system. If you live in West Central Wisconsin or the surrounding areas, call now at (715) 283-4422 or schedule a service appointment online.